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"Divine Turtle? Where is a Divine Turtle?!"
Oscar, who had been meditating, suddenly leapt up and looked around curiously.
Lan Minghua glanced at the foolish-looking Oscar, his lips twitching.
"What a sin… how did I lose my mind back then and accept him as my disciple?"
Seeing this, Lan Minghua swung a slipper at him.
Hearing the sound of something cutting through the air, Oscar had just turned his head when the slipper smacked him squarely in the face, knocking him flat onto the ground.
The noise startled Zhu Zhuqing and the other two girls, who quickly opened their eyes.
When they saw Oscar sprawled on the flying sword with a bright red slipper mark across his face, the three of them didn't even bat an eye—they were already used to such scenes.
In their eyes, Lan Minghua was indeed a good teacher, but by no means a traditional one.
Lan Minghua raised his foot and caught the slipper that flew back to him, then asked, "Yiran, you've broken through to level forty?"
"Yes, Master, I've broken through to level forty," Meng Yiran replied excitedly.
Not long ago, she had barely reached level thirty. But after becoming Lan Minghua's disciple, she had already advanced to level forty.
Moreover, there were no signs of her spirit power being unstable—it was an almost flawless increase with no side effects.
Lan Minghua nodded and said softly, "I've already decided what spirit beast Oscar should use for his fourth spirit ring. As for the rest of you, think carefully about what kind of spirit beast you need."
The Mirror Shadow Beast was his first choice for Oscar's fourth spirit ring—a ring that would bring about a true transformation in his strength.
The three girls began reflecting on their own weaknesses, carefully considering which spirit beasts would suit them best.
Since Lan Minghua didn't know their abilities as well, he could only let them make their own decisions.
As the flying sword drew closer to its destination, the surrounding temperature dropped sharply, and a bone-chilling cold filled the air.
The once-clear sky was gradually swallowed by thick, oppressive clouds. The wind howled, carrying sheets of snow as a sudden blizzard descended without warning.
The three girls shivered despite being spirit elders of rank forty with three rings each—the cold was still unbearable.
Oscar, who had been feigning death on the flying sword, suddenly sprang up, hugging his arms as his legs trembled violently from the freezing air.
"Phew!"
His breath instantly crystallized into white frost the moment it left his lips.
Staring at the snowstorm-shrouded forest ahead, he couldn't help but sigh. "So this is the Frozen Forest? It really lives up to its name."
Lan Minghua's expression remained calm. With a flick of his finger, a pale blue light curtain spread from the sword's edges, enveloping everyone inside.
The barrier shut out the howling wind and biting cold, yet the sword's speed remained undiminished as it plunged into the raging blizzard.
Outside, the storm raged wildly, like countless ice blades slashing through the air with a sharp, piercing roar.
The flying sword streaked through the snowstorm like a tiny boat braving a stormy sea.
Oscar and the others could barely see ahead through the endless whiteness, while Lan Minghua guided the sword smoothly, weaving left and right with practiced ease.
As they neared the edge of the blizzard, he called out, "Hold tight!"
Having gone through this before, Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, and Meng Yiran immediately tensed up, bracing themselves.
Seeing Dugu Yan still unmoved, Oscar quickly shouted, "Fifth Junior Sister, circulate your spirit power and steady yourself! Otherwise, you'll fall!"
Startled, Dugu Yan hurried to comply.
Before his words had even faded, the sword suddenly accelerated.
The barrier around the blade burst into dazzling light, streaking forward like a meteor cutting across the night sky.
"Boom—!"
The flying sword pierced through the final wall of snow, and in an instant, the scene before them changed.
The roaring winds vanished, replaced by silence and brilliance.
The sword floated steadily in midair, the blizzard held back by an invisible wall that barred it from approaching any closer.
Everyone looked up to see a vast expanse of snow stretching endlessly before them.
Though the sky was still overcast, the storm had ceased.
Not far away, the Frozen Forest loomed into view, towering conifers like massive ice pillars rooted in the snowy earth.
Sunlight streamed through gaps in the clouds, striking the icy trees and scattering cold, dazzling light.
The entire forest gleamed with a silver brilliance.
Lan Minghua guided the sword downward until it landed at the forest's edge.
Everyone leapt off, their boots crunching into the thick snow with sharp "creak, creak" sounds.
The surroundings were deathly still, broken only by the low, mournful wail of the wind brushing past the treetops.
"We finally made it," Oscar muttered, his voice carrying both excitement and nervousness.
Lan Minghua stored away the massive flying sword, his gaze fixed deep into the forest. "Let's go. Hopefully, we can quickly find the spirit beasts we need. All this blinding white is hurting my eyes."
The group followed him into the Frozen Forest.
The moment they stepped inside, they were stunned by the sight before them.
The branches of the conifers were heavy with frost, refracting scattered beams of cold light as the sun filtered weakly through the clouds.
It was as though the entire forest had been transformed into a massive world of ice sculptures.
But beneath this beautiful silence lay countless hidden dangers.
Not long after they ventured deeper, the air trembled with a low rumble, as though some colossal creature was approaching.
"ROAR!!"
A deafening bellow shook the forest, sending icicles crashing from the branches.
Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a massive spirit beast burst forth from the trees.
It was a ten-thousand-year Ice Crystal Snow Bear!
The beast towered over five meters tall, its entire body sheathed in glistening ice armor.
Jagged icicles jutted from its back like the spines of a moving glacier.
Its eyes glowed blood-red, and its frosty breath misted in the air—it had clearly marked them as prey.
The Ice Crystal Snow Bear charged forward, each step making the ground tremble.
Snow sprayed in its wake, and towering trees splintered with loud cracks as its massive body plowed through them, an overwhelming force that made hearts pound.
Yet Oscar and the others showed not the slightest panic.
Their eyes turned instinctively toward Lan Minghua, filled with trust and calm.
Standing at the front, Lan Minghua didn't show fear either—instead, a smile tugged at his lips.
Rubbing his slightly sunken stomach, he chuckled softly. "I was just feeling hungry. Didn't expect this fellow to deliver itself right to me. Saves me the trouble of hunting."
The Ice Crystal Snow Bear charged and leapt high, its massive body like a mountain collapsing over them.
Its claws glinted with cold light, and the icy breath spewing from its jaws seemed enough to freeze the very air.
But just as it was about to strike, Lan Minghua casually raised his hand, his fingertip tracing a graceful arc in the air.
"Swish—!"
In an instant, a terrifying sword aura appeared, like a flash of silver lightning that slashed clean across the bear's neck.
The beast froze, its eyes still blazing with ferocity, but its body was already lifeless.
A heartbeat later, its massive head slid from its shoulders and crashed into the snow with a heavy thud.
The headless corpse toppled, and the blood that spurted out froze instantly, transforming into crystalline scarlet ice.
Lan Minghua lowered his hand and said calmly, "Looks like we'll eat well tonight."
Then he turned to the others. "Find a safe spot nearby to set up camp. I'll handle this Ice Crystal Snow Bear."
After all, he had only ever seen bear paw listed in cookbooks before.
Now that he had crossed into this world, he wasn't about to miss the chance to try it.
Meanwhile, the Lion Douluo and his two companions had also fought their way through the blizzard and reached the forest's edge.
Gazing at the frozen wilderness before them, the three grew wary.
"We're here!"
(End of Chapter)